Written in August, the September 2022 edition of Vogue had Serena Williams announcing that she would be ‘evolving away from tennis’. She dislikes the word ‘retirement’, and instead, prefers ‘evolution’.
She wants to focus on growing her family, spending more time with her loved ones and evolving her venture capital firm.
In the U.S. Open match, Williams lost to Ajla Tomljanovic. The 22-point run game was legend’s last.
Standing in the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, she said, “It’s been a fun ride, it’s been the most incredible ride and the journey I’ve ever been on in my life, and I’m just so grateful to every person that’s ever said, ‘Go Serena’ in their life. I am grateful because you got me here.”
Williams also said she would not reconsider her decision to retire. However, she added, “You never know.”
She has had several ups and downs, yet she remained one of the most inspiring athletes. Here are her top five career highlights.
Image Courtesy: Instagram/serenawilliams
In the U.S. Open in 1999, Williams was only 17 years old when she won her first Grand Slam Title. Later in life, she went on to win 22 more of those titles.
Beaming with pride, her father, Richard Williams, recorded the moment for their family album. She was the first black American since Arthur Ashe, who received the title in 1975, to win the title.
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Williams was also the first black American woman to win a singles major after Althea Gibson did it in 1958.
Image Courtesy: Instagram/serenawilliams
The 2000 and 2001 U.S. Open titles lead Serena and Venus into a sibling rivalry. However, in 2002, Serena beat Venus in the French Open final, the U.S. Open final and the Wimbledon final. In early 2003, she won her maiden Australian Open crown.
After winning four consecutive titles, she completed her first ‘Serena Slam’. She thanked her sister Venus and mentioned in her book, My Life - Queen of the Court, “She pushed me to be the very best I could be.”
Image Courtesy: Instagram/serenawilliams
After her knee injury worsened in 2006, Williams had to drop out of the top 100. However, she came back from all adversities in 2007 and how. When she arrived for the Australian Open in Melbourne, she ranked at 81st position.
Sports authorities and everyone had questions surrounding her fitness (weight training for beginners) and well-being. She won the Australian Open and her eighth Gram Slam title.
She defeated Sharapova in the finals, who after announcing her retirement in 2020, said, “I don’t think many of you expected her to be in the final, but I definitely did.”
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Image Courtesy: Instagram/serenawilliams
After winning her fifth Wimbledon title, Williams returned to London in 2012, eyeing the singles gold in the Olympics. She won it and completed her career collection of the five big titles - the Olympics singles and four slams.
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In 2017, Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title. It made her secure her original number one position. Later, she disclosed that she won that title while she was pregnant (exercises for pregnant women)with her daughter Alexis Olympia.
Serena Williams will be missed, but we wish her the best in her future endeavours.
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